U.S. Department of Justice

Tribal Resources Grant Program (TRGP)

Fiscal Year 2019 Guidance on Background Investigation		

Special Award Condition Requirement for		

Tribal Resources Grant Program Hiring (TRGP‐HIRE) Award Recipients

External Background Investigations FAQs

1. Do I need to complete a background investigation for the COPS

Office–funded officer(s) I hire?

Yes. For your award to comply with the special award condition on officer background investigations,

the COPS Office requires that you complete a background investigation for all officers hired (including

rehired officers) with COPS Office grant program funds to reduce the risk of hiring officers with past

convictions of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other serious crimes.

2. What is a background investigation?

For purposes of COPS Office programs, a background check or background investigation is the process of

compiling and analyzing the employment history, criminal records, commercial records, financial

records, and other relevant information of an individual to be hired with COPS Office funding.

3. What type of background investigation is required for officers

funded by the COPS Office?

Background investigations can include the following as well as other types of investigation:

 Credit checks

 Criminal history checks

 Resume validation

 Work history verification

4. Where should I go to have a background investigation completed

for the awarded officer(s)?

Many agencies have specially trained staff who perform background investigations in‐house. Others

contract with outside security professionals for background investigation services. The choice is up to

individual award recipients as to how background investigations are handled.
5. What should I do with the information received back from the 

background investigation?

You should review the results of the background investigation to determine whether it is appropriate to 

hire the applicant based on your agency’s hiring policies and procedures. Award recipients should 

maintain all relevant documentation required to demonstrate award compliance.

6. Should I send background investigation information to the COPS 

Office?

Please do not send the COPS Office background investigation information for potential hires by your 

agency. The COPS Office does not review or evaluate background investigation information. In addition, 

the COPS Office will not review or maintain background investigation results.

7. How do I report to the COPS Office that I have satisfied the special 

award condition of completing a background investigation for the 

awarded officer(s)?

Please report the status of the background investigation completion in your required programmatic 

progress reports. You will enter the completion date of the background investigation for the awarded 

position(s). In addition, you may contact your Grant Program Specialist to let them know the completion 

date(s) of the background investigations. 

8. If the awarded officer leaves, do I complete a new background 

investigation on his or her replacement?

Yes. You are required to complete a background investigation for each person who ultimately fills the 

COPS Office–funded position(s).
9. While applying for officers, I did not request costs for background 

investigations or officer training in my budget worksheet. Now that I am 

awarded, is there an opportunity that I can receive an increase in my 

grant award?

No, award amounts cannot be increased. However, if local, state, or Bureau of Indian Affairs funds are 

not currently allocated for background investigations or training, you may request an award 

modification to reallocate other award funds for these purposes. Please contact your Grant Program 

Specialist to assist with requesting a post-award budget modification.

10. What happens if I do not complete a background investigation for 

the awarded officer(s)?

If the COPS Office determines that funds have been used to pay the salary and fringe benefits of an 

officer who has not undergone a background investigation, the COPS Office may exercise appropriate 

remedies (including the suspension of grant funds) in accordance with 2 C.F.R. §200.338 until the agency 

can demonstrate that the background investigation has been completed.